Floating roof seal



Sept. 1, 1942. H. HAMMEREN FLOATING ROOF SEAL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Dec. 10, 1937 Sept. 1, 1942. H. HAMMEREN FLOATING ROOF SEAL" Original Filed Dec. 10, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 1, 1942. H. HAMMEREN FLOATING ROOF SEAL Original Fi led Dec. 10, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 .Sept.1, 1942. H. HAMMEREN Re. 22,169 1 FLOATING ROOF SEAL Original Filed Dec. 10, 193'? 5 Shets-Sheet 4.

p 1, 1942. H. HAMMEREN' Re. 22,169

4 FLOATING ROOF SEAL ori in-a1 Filed Dec. 10, 193-7 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Reisaued Sept. 1, 1942 FLOATING ROOF SEAL Hans Hammeren, Bethlehem, 1a., assignor to Bethlehem Steel Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Original No. Serial No. plication for reissue No. 420,037

17 Claims.

maintaining the roof centered in the tank.

An object of this invention is to provide a flexible sealing means which is carried by the roof, and supporting means for the seal located above 2,180,587, dated November 21, 1939, 179,050, December 10, 1937. Ap-

November 21, 1941, Serial the seal and constructed so as to maintain contact of the seal against the tank wall effectively.

Another object is to provide a seal in which no part thereof is in contact with the liquid in the tank, thereby dispensing with sliding metallic members commonly known as shoes and the expense accompanying their manufacture and I maintenance.

Other novel features will be more fully understood from the following description and claims taken with the drawings.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a standard hanger;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a standard hanger;

Fig. 3 is an end view of a standard hanger with theseal removed;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a modified hanger;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the modified hanger with the seal removed;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a standard seal clamp;

Fig. 7 shows a section of the seal clamp taken 'on line 1-1. of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a seal bar splice in way of a splice in the seal;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 shows a section taken on line ill-Ill of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a sectional plan at the ends of the contact bars;

Fig. 12 is a, sectional plan of the seal in the way of the guide rail;

Fig. 13 shows a partial oi the seal; M

Fig. 14 is a plan view of a roller guide bracket; and

Fig. 15 bracket.

With reference'to the parts shown in the drawings, I representsthe side wall of a tank adapted ior holding a vlatile liquid, On this liquid a taken on line 9- 9 of plan view of a section is, an elevation view of the guide supporting members floating root 2 is supported, said root having a flat bottom portion, not shown, and provided at its edge with an upwardly extending side wall or rim 3, and top cover plate 4. However, the construction of the roof may be of any suitable design for the purpose intended.

The annular space between the wall of the tank and the side wall 01! said deck is substantially closed by an annular flexible seal 5 capable of adapting itself sufliciently to compensate for variations in the relative position of the roof to the tank, and for irregularities in the construction of the tank itself. The seal is made or oil and fire-resisting material. For small tanks, 01 about 25 feet diameter, the sealing member may [be made in three sections, and larger tanks in proportion, thus reducing the number of splices in the seal to a minimum.

With a floating roof oi the type illustrated, the bottom edge of the seal is secured to the top of the roof by special clamping means, hereinafter to be described, so as to form a tight joint between the seal member and the root. The seal is curved upwardly and outwardly toward the wall of the tank but is protected at its upper edge from rubbing against the tank by means of the circular contact bars 5. These bars are preferably made in sections of shorter lengths than the lengths of the sealsectors. The bars 6 may consist of either ferrous or non-ferrous half ovals so as to ride over joints and rivets of the tank, and are comparatively stiff so as'to maintain the top edge of the seal substantially circular at all times. I

The seal is support (:1 at its upper edge. by meansof circular carrier bars I and horizontal swingingly mounted supporting members 8, the

side ends to the carrier bars. To said swinging members are pivotally attached two pairs of links 9' which in turn are pivotally attached at their upper ends to supporting brackets Ill. Two similar brackets in are provided ior each supporting unit so as to form a ilrm and non-tiltable support for the seal. The brackets have a wide top portion presenting the appearance of an inclined Y and are pivotally connected at their lower ends tothe deck by means of lugs II and pins I2. The lower ends 0! the brackets are spaced apart a greater distance than their upper ends so as to provide a firm support for the seal and to resist-lateral bending.

All seal supporting brackets as shown in Figs. 1 to 5 are provided at their outer ends with rollbeing welded at their outof slotted rivets 20 passing roller guide bracket shown over the ends of the arched at these movement of the conditions, but allow relative movement between the supporting bar I and brackets II; In addition to the weight component for effecting contact between bar l and the tank wall, a coil spring ll may be used to advantage to aid in keeping the bar 8' in contact with the tank wall, or a weight attached to bar 8 would have an equivalent efl'ect.

Each unit as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is preferably provided with a stop bar I! so as to limit the inward movement of the rollers relative to the roof to about 1V This bar, however, willnot prevent the outward movement of the rollers. These stop bars also assist'in maintaining the roof positioned centrally of the tank.

The sealing member I, contact bar 8 and carrier bar I are attached to each other by means through each of said pieces and fastened together by means of tapered keys 2| driven through the slot of the rivet. This attachment provides an easy and quick way for assembling or disassembling these parts without the use of bolts and nuts which are subject to. corrosion. A fastening of this type provides a positive connection for the three above mentioned pieces, and does not rely upon a friction connection for supporting the upper edge of the sealing member.

The supporting bracket as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is similar to the bracket shown in Figs. 1 to 3 with the exception that the end of the supporting member 8 is cut oil and spring ll omitted. This bracket is provided with a leaf spring I! attached at its upper end to bolt l1 and shaped so as to bear against bar II at ts lower edge and then incline downwardly to contact the top of the root at its lower end. When in its assembled position the spring will exert i'oi'ce tending to press the roller l3 against the wall of the tank.

This particular bracket with spring" is intended to be used at the side of the roof opposite the in Figs. and 15 for keeping the roof central relative to the tank. Any number, or all, or the brackets may be equipped with springs, if. desired. in this manner to increase the sealing pressure against the tank shell.

Figs. 6 to 9 show clamps for securing the seal the upper end of link over the guide rail ll. Here, the contact bar I.

the seal I and the carrier bar I are made continu- 5 one in passing over the rail. The small open spaces 21 and 28 prevent formation or pressure in the gases accumulating under the seal between the side of the roof and the wall of the tank.

- Fig. 13 is a plan view of a section of the seal and shows the relation of the supporting brackets to the ends of the contact and carrier bars as illustrated in Fig. 11. It will be noted that there are two supporting brackets for each section of these bars for efiectiveiy supporting the ends of these pieces and thereby supporting the upper edge of the 'seal throughout its circumference. However. for large tanks, a. single bracket assemblyhaving two bars ll, spaced apart, may be used for supporting the opposing ends of bars 7, thus reducing the number of brackets required.

Figs. 14 and 15 show the construction oi a. roller guide bracket for preventing turning of the roof relative to the tank. Each bracket has a grooved roller 29 mounted between the ends of two horizontally positioned angles 30 held in spaced relation by means of plates 3| welded to The arm is pivotally connected to the top of the roof by means of two and pivotal supports links are made from which provide spaced bearings for the pins forming the pivots. An adjustable tension spring 88 is attached to the lower end of link 32 and to 33 for exerting pressure on the roller against rail It so as to prevent disengagement between the roller and the rail. The rail is oi rectangular section and is welded to the inside ofthe tank at its outside edge. a

In view of the necessity for maintaining the roof in its proper position with respect to stairways, ladders, gauge hatches, etc., it is essential that horizontal movement of the roof be prevented. A single guide rail will sufllce for storage tanks of comparatively small diameter, but it is advisable to use two or more rails and guidebracketstor large tanks.

The counteraction parallel inclined links 32, 33 34 welded to the roof. The

of spring It on the bracket shown in Fig. 4 against spring 36 of the roller I supporting parts, and the roller guide bracket,

member to the deck in a convenient manner.

The clamps shown in Figs. 8 and 'l are used intermediate the Joints in bar 25 and are also used at the splices in the seal, and consist of a stud I! welded to the deck, a clip 23 and a tapered key 24 for clamping the continuous bars II against the'seal. The clamps as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 aresimilar in all respects to those shownin Figs. 6 and 7 except they indicate the means for splicing the hold-down bars II and It. splices in the seal I are made by lapping the material of the clamps as indicated inFigs. 8 and 9.

Fig. 11 shows the manner of carrying the seal points so as to provide expandue toshift of the roof relaand to allow for independent various sections of the seal relative to each other.

Big. 12 shows the manner of bridging the seal sion of the seal tive to the tank under one contactbars B. The sealis hinged at its lower accessible and free are mountedin the open where all the parts are from direct contact with the liquid in the tank and its corrosive influence.

A feature of a seal constructed in this manner is its comparative light weight and low cost, in combination with its cessibility in service.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. The combination with a liquid storage tank and a floating ro'oi' therefor, of a flexible sealing member secured at one edge of the roof for closing the annular space between the edge 01 the roof and the tank, a contact bar secured to the free edge of the sealing member adjacent the wall of the tank, a carrier bar for the free edge of the seal, a supporting member attached to said carrier bar, an upwardly projecting bracket end to the roof and having a hearing at its upper end for contact with the wall of the tank. and links pivotally attached to said standard channel sections proven practicability and acthe tank, comprising an bracket and to said supporting member so as to maintain said supporting member in horizontal swinging position. a

2. A seal for closing the annular space between the walls of a liquid storage tank and the edge of a roof adapted to float upon liquid in the tank, comprising an outwardly projecting flexible sealing member secured to the roof for bridging said space, a rounded contact, bar for the projecting edge of the fabric adjacent said wall, a carrier bar for the projecting edge of the fabric, means for clamping said fabric and contact bar to said carrier, a horizontally disposed supporting bar secured to said carrier bar, an upwardly projecting bracket hinged at its lowenend to the roof and having a roller at its uppermend for hearing against the tank wall, spaced supporting links pivotally attached to said bracket and to said supporting bar for holding said bar in substantially horizontal swinging position relative to the roof; said contact bar, sealing member and its supporting parts being located entirely above the top of said roof and free of contact with the liquid in the tank.

3. A seal for closing the annular space between the walls of a liquid storage tank and a roof adapted to float upon the liquid in the tank, comprising ,a flexible sealing member secured to the edge of the roof and constituting substantially the sole means for closing said space,. a carrier bar 6. A seal for floating tank roofs having an upwardly curved annular sealing member secured at its lower edge to the roof for closing the space between the edge of the roof and the tank, means for supporting the upper edge of the sealing member comprising abracket hinged at its lower end to the roof and having a widened top portion carrying a roller for contact with the tank wall, said widened portion having depending links pivoted thereto at their upper ends and pivotally connected at their lower ends to a swingingly mounted supporting member connected to the top edge of the sealing member, said links being spaced apart sufliciently so as to hold said supporting member in substantially horizontal position, and means limiting the inward movement of said bracket about its hinge for restricting the horizontal movement of the roof relative to the tank.

7. A seal for closing the annular space between the walls of a liquid storage tank and a- ,roof adapted to float upon theliquid in the tank,

comprising an upwardly curved sealing member secured at its lower edge to the top edge of the to which the upper free edge of said sealing' member is attached, an inwardly projecting supporting bar attached at its outer end to said carrier, bracket members forming a unit hinged at their lower ends to the top of the roof and having abearing at their upper ends for contact with the tank wall, said supporting bar being swingingly suspended from said bracket members by means of links pivotally attached at their upper ends to said brackets and to said supporting member at their lower ends, said pivots being at equally spaced points on said brackets and said support, the lower ends of said links being inwardly offset an appreciable amount relative to their upper ends when in their normal operative position.

4. A seal for closing the annular space between the walls of a liquid storage tank and the edge of a roof adapted to float upon the liquid in upwardly curved strip of flexible fabric secured at one edge to the roof and providing substantially the sole means for effecting a closure between the edge of the roof and the tank, means for preventing rubbing of the free edge of said fabric against the tank, a circular carrier bar for supportingthe free edge of the fabric, a horizontally disposed swinging member attached to said carrier, an outwardly inclined bracket hinged at its lower end to the roof and having a bearing at its upper end for contact with the inside. wall of the tank, and a plurality of depending links spaced a substantial distance apart pivotally connecting said swinging member to said bracket, said links being vertical- 1y inclined when in their normal operative position so that the horizontal weight component of the parts suspended from said bracket will tend to force said swinging member outwardly and thereby urge the free edge of the-fabric strip toward the wall of the tank.

5. A seal of the kind described in claim 4, and a force producing means acting upon said swinging member in addition to said weight component for assisting in urging the free edge of the fabric strip toward the'wall of the tank.

roof for closing said space, a rounded contact bar secured to the outside upper edge of the sealing member for engagement with the wall of the tank, a carrier bar secured to the inside upper edge of the sealing member, an inwardly projecting supporting memberrigidly secured at one of its ends to said carrier bar, a Y-shaped bracket hinged at its lower end to the top of the roof near its edge and having a roller at its outside upper extension for contact with a portion or the tank, a pair of links pivotally suspended from the outside upper extension of said bracket, another pair of links pivotally suspended from the inside upper extension of said bracket,

' the lower ends of said links being inwardly offset relative to their upper ends when-in operative position and plvotally connected to said supporting member at points equally distant relative to, their upper ends.

8. The combination with a liquid storage tank and a floating roof therefor, of an upwardly curved fabric seal secured at one edge to the roof and adapted to close the annular space between the edge of the roof and the wall of.the tank, a protective rubbing strip for the free edge of the seal and of less depth than the height of the seal, a-shallow carrier bar for attaching the free edge of the seal thereto, a supporting bar rig d y attached to'said carrier, a vertically projecting bracket hinged at its lower end to the top of the ,the roof is floated in the tank.

9. The combination of a liquid stora e tank. a floating roof for said tank, and a seal for said roof comprising a flexible sealing member secured at its inner edge to the roof and having its outer free edge positioned adjacent the wall of the tank, means secured to the free edge of said sealing member for preventing rubbing of the seal against the tank, a ring sector for supporting tached to said ring, an upwardly projecting bracket hinged at its lower end to the roof and having a roller at its upper end for rolling coni, tact against the tank wall, a link pivotally attached at its upper end to said bracket at the axis of said roller,'another similar link pivotally attached at its upper end to said bracket in spacedrelation to the first mentioned link, the lower ends of said links being pivotallyattached 'to said bar at points equally spaced relative to their upper ends for maintaining said bar in substantially horizontal swinging position relative to the roof.

10. A seal-for floating roof tanks, comprising an outwardly projecting sealing member secured to the roof for closing the annular space between the edge of the roof and the tank wall, a circular protbctive member attached to the projecting edge of the sealing member adjacent the tank' wall, a supporting bar rigidly attached to said protective member and to the projecting edge or said sealing member, a bracket carried by the roof for supporting said supporting bar, a plurality of spaced links pivotally attached to said bracket and to said supporting bar for maintaining said bar in horizontal swinging position and thereby prevent said protective member and the projecting edge of, the sealing member from turning when passing over projections on the wall of the tank, said links being vertically inclined so that the horizontal weight component of the parts carried by said bracket will urge the protective member into pressing engagement with the wall of the tank. 1

11. A seal for floating tank roofs, comprising an upwardly inclined seal supporting brackets a rollerat its upper end for engagement with the wall of the tank, an upwardly curved flexible member secured at its lower edge to the rooi forhinged at its lower end to the roof and carrying and maintaining said free edge substantially circular, an inwardly projecting bar fixedly atmounted on. the root at the side opposite said supporting bracket by means or a horizontal arm carryingsaid roller, a pair or links pivotally connecting said arm with the deck, and a spring connecting said links for main ining said roller in contact with the rail, the counteraction oi the springs associated with said supporting bracket and said links being eflective for maintaining the rooi central relative to the tank.

14. The combination with a liquid storage tank and a floating rooi. therefor, of a flexible sealing.

member secured at one edge to the root for closing the annular space between the edge of the root and the tank, a contact bar secured to the free edge 01' the'sealing member adjacent the wall of the tank, a carrier bar for the free edge of the seal, a supporting member attached to said carrier bar, upwardly projecting brackets hinged at their lower ends to the root and having a bearing at their upper ends for contact with the wall 01' the tank, and links pivotally attached to said brackets and to said supporting member so as to maintain said supporting member in horizontal swinging position.

15. The combination with a liquid storage tank and a floating roof therefor o! a flexible sealing member secured at one edge to the rooi. i'or .closing the annular space between the edge of thereof and the tank, a carrier bar for the free edge of the seal, supporting members attached to said carrier bar, upwardly projecting brackets hinged at their lower ends to the root and having a bearing at their upper ends for contact with the wall 01' the tank, and links pivotally attached to said brackets and to said supporting members so as to maintain said supporting members in horizontal swinging position.

1 16. A sea! ,i'or closing the space between the walls of 'a liquid storage tank and the edge oi" a root adapted to float upon the liquid in the tank,

comprising a flexible sealing member secured at one edge to the root for closing said space, a

carrier bar for the free edge of the seal, a supporting member attached to said carrier bar, an upwardly projecting bracket hinged at its lower end to the roof and having a hearing at its upper end for contactwith the wall of the tank and a linkpivotally attached to said bracket and to vertical guide rail fixed to the inside of the tank,

and a roller yieldinglymounted on the top of the roofand at the side opposite said supporting bracket for engagement with said rail.

13. In a floating root for tanksthe combinationwith a bracket pivotally mountedxon the roof and having end engagement with the tank for supporting the edge oi'an annular sealing member, a spring combined with the bracket and the root for exerting pressure on the bracket "against the tank, or a guide rail flxed to the inside of the tank, a guide, roller yieldingly said supporting member so as to maintain the supporting member in horizontal swin ing Dosi- 17. A seal tor'closing the space between the wall of a liquid storage tank and the edge of a root adapted to be movably supported in the tank, comprising a sealing member secured at one edge to the root, a bracket hinged to the roof and having a bearing member adapted to contact said wall, means to urge said bearing member into contact with said well, a member movably mounted on said bracket for supporting said sealing member, and means to urge thev last mentioned movable member into contact with said wall independently oi! said bearing member.

HANS 

